ARTICLE BY CARLY DEVERY
PHOTOS BY DESMOND HSU
OCT. 11 | LOS ANGELES—“Epic” would be the only way to describe the show Seattle rockers Sunny Day Real Estate performed tonight at the Music Box at the Fonda. With rumors of a reunion tour being posted earlier this year, it was confirmed in June that indeed Sunny Day Real Estate would be touring with the original lineup. And it was especially exciting that the band would be stopping in California, having not toured here very much. Nine years after disbanding and 15 years after Diary was released, the sold-out venue tonight was packed with undeniable energy.
As I eagerly awaited the start of the show, I could hear people recalling how old they were when they first started listening to SDRE or where they bought their copy of Diary all those years ago. The show evoked a sense of nostalgia, reminding me of the day I bought Diary and the artwork, which resembled Fisher Price Little People, not knowing how emotionally powerful that album and the band would turn out to be. I couldn’t wait to find out if the anticipation of this reunion show would live up to the memories.
Quietly stepping on stage and starting with “Friday,” the band eased into a set that was at times very delicate—and then would suddenly become loud and powerful. Singer Jeremy Enigk’s voice went from fragile to deafening throughout the show. During “7,” Enigk and guitarist Dan Hoerner played facing each other in a way that felt like they were the only ones in the room. By the time “Song About an Angel” came on, I was certain the entire audience was singing along to the lyrics. I know I was smiling as I screamed “sometimes you see right through me” at the top of my lungs.
While the set list was a mix of songs from Diary and the Pink Album, Enigk in his deep, low voice asked the audience if we wanted to hear something from How It Feels to Be Something On, to which we were rewarded with a absolutely flawless rendition of “Guitar and Video Games.” Diving right in, the intro was almost completely overshadowed by the excitement of the crowd.
Listening to Sunny Day Real Estate play live tonight, I felt the same excitement and emotions as listening to them in the ’90s. The set as a whole was absolutely perfect, and Enigk’s voice was as powerful as ever. The passing of time has not diminished the distinctive quality that makes SDRE. But as quickly as it started, the show ended with an encore that included “In Circles.” The set included one new song … leaving fans with the hope of an upcoming new album. I hope this won’t be the last time I get to see them live.
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